It’s no secret that more and more families are choosing to have both parents go out to the office and earn a wage. But despite the potential positives of this move, which can include a female working role model for a child and an increase in income – there are costs to be considered.

Childcare

Any working parent will know just how expensive childcare can be. While you might be forgiven for thinking that a few hours of nursery care here and there is a relatively limited source of expenditure – the reality is that most mums and dads notice their bank balances are regularly drained because of money spent in this area.

Indeed, some families even go as far as to have one parent leave their job in order to avoid this outgoing. But this isn’t necessary and childcare voucher schemes put in place by some companies have helped families across the UK to slash their expenditure.

Childcare vouchers allow staff members to book nursery or daycare places for their children using an online website and this is completely exempt from VAT – meaning all bills are reduced by 20 per cent.

Transport

Getting to and from work can be substantially more expensive than you’d think. Buses, trains and taxis all eat into the budgets of working families and stop money from being spent on other – more worthwhile-things like nappies, private healthcare and wine (not for the baby!).

To try and cut this out, why not consider cycling? Not only is it healthier and less expensive, but studies have suggested it also results in more productive employees.

German Dector-Vega, that’s his name, not his nationality by the way, is the London director of Cycling advocacy charity Sustrans and said: “Bicycles are a mechanical wonder and one of the least carbon intensive modes of transport. You can ride one almost to its destruction and it will still keep going.

“They’re cheap to maintain, produce no noise, use a fifth of the space of a car, help you stay physically active and if you buy a bike with no gears and small handlebars it might even make you look trendy!”

Lunch

Yep you read right. Those lunchtime trips to Boots, ASDA or Subway can really add up. Although the odd sandwich here or there isn’t likely to break the bank – an overreliance on paying £3 here and £5 there on lunches could be more of an issue than you’d think.

For example, if in a 22-day working month, you eat out for 14 days because you are too busy to rustle something up in the kitchen before you leave in the morning, the costs of this could actually be around £50-60.

If you still can’t be bothered to sort out a sandwich in the morning, why not consider cooking more than you expect to eat at dinner and then put some of the leftovers in a container for you to take to work.

Not only will this massively cut expenditure, as ingredients from supermarkets are generally very cheap, it will also give you a break from boring white bread ham sandwiches and vary your diet up nicely!

But don’t bring in fish. Everyone hates the person that microwaves fish in the office!